Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation
The Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation is a private foundation based in San Antonio, Texas. It supports the diverse needs of San Antonio and the surrounding community, with an emphasis on Bexar County, and identifies arts, education, health and wellness, animal welfare, and wildlife conservation as its primary focus areas.
Key facts about Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation
In short: Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation gave $3.2M across 73 grants in 2024 (avg $43K), mostly in Texas. 30% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 74-2442790
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,174,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 73
- Average grant
- $43,479
- Median grant
- $25,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 30% first-time grantees (22 of 73, 2024)
- Total assets
- $51,501,745
- Primary geography
- Texas (97% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The 2024 filing lists Barry Roberts as the contact. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$51.5M
+5.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.2M
+9.6% YoY
Grant Count
73
+52.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$43K
-27.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation open to new grantees?
30%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 22 of 73 grantees (30%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $25K; repeat grants $52K. How we count
Medians: $18K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 34% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−3%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 100% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to support the diverse needs of San Antonio and the surrounding community, with an emphasis on Bexar County. Its stated primary focus areas are arts, education, health and wellness, animal welfare, and wildlife conservation.
Its 2024 grantees illustrate several kinds of work it supports. Texas Biomedical Research Institute describes its mission as advancing scientific breakthroughs against infectious diseases. The San Antonio Zoological Society says it works to foster appreciation and concern for living things. Saint Mary’s Hall says its mission is to prepare students for success in college and fulfillment in life. The American Cancer Society describes work in cancer advocacy, research, and patient support.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 73 grants totaling $3,174,000. Grants ranged from $1,500 to $430,000, with a median of $25,000. Notable recipients included the San Antonio Botanical Society/Garden ($430,000), Texas Biomedical Research Institute ($400,000), TMI Episcopal ($300,000), University of Texas Foundation ($150,000), American Cancer Society ($100,000), and San Antonio Zoological Society ($100,000).
Review Cycle
, and restrictions on awards are listed as N/A. The foundation’s website provides an “Apply for a Grant” pathway.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation
Ready to take the next step with Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation emphasizes San Antonio and Bexar County. In 2024, 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas, 2% to recipients in New York, and 1% to recipients in Washington.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 73 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.9M (2020) to $3.4M (2022). In 2024 it made 73 grants totaling $3.2M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was San Antonio Botanical Societygarden ($430K). Together the top 10 received $1.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
335 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 244 grants of 335 (73%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| San Antonio Botanical Societygarden San Antonio, TX | Charitable | $430,000 |
| Texas Biomedical Research Institute San Antonio, TX | Charitable | $400,000 |
| TMI Episcopal San Antonio, TX | Charitable | $300,000 |
| University of Texas Foundation Austin, TX | Charitable | $150,000 |
| American Cancer Society San Antonio, TX | Charitable | $100,000 |
| San Antonio Zoological Society San Antonio, TX | Charitable | $100,000 |
| The Charity Ball Association San Antonio, TX | Charitable | $75,000 |
| Saint Mary's Hall San Antonio, TX | Charitable | $60,000 |
| Wounded Warrior Project San Antonio, TX | Charitable | $60,000 |
| Brighton Center San Antonio, TX | Charitable | $50,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $51,501,745 | $6,182,069 | $3,707,886 | $3,174,000 |
| 2023 | $49,027,562 | $2,438,533 | $3,353,410 | $2,896,588 |
| 2022 | $49,942,439 | $1,891,048 | $3,978,658 | $3,417,631 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $51,501,745 | $49,027,562 | $49,942,439 |
| Revenue | $6,182,069 | $2,438,533 | $1,891,048 |
| Expenses | $3,707,886 | $3,353,410 | $3,978,658 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,174,000 | $2,896,588 | $3,417,631 |
| Net Investment Income | $5,627,317 | $1,984,711 | $1,462,723 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,169,153 | $2,859,594 | $2,890,408 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Barry Roberts as president/treasurer, Carolina Roberts Lewis as vice-president, and Elizabeth McAllen Roberts as secretary.
Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation is led by Barry Roberts, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Barry Roberts
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth McAllen Roberts
Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carolina Roberts Lewis
Vice President
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Robert Kelso (2020–2023) — Vice President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Application contact: Barry Roberts
Mailing address: 7373 Broadway Ste 406, San Antonio, TX 78209
Phone: (210) 820-0113
Website: https://bettystierenkelsofoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation
How much does Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation give each year?
Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation gave $3.2M across 73 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.9M across 48 grants.
What is Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation's typical grant size?
Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $43,479, across 73 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation that year got $25K on average.
Where does Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation give grants?
Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were San Antonio, TX (63 grants) and Austin, TX (3 grants).
Does Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 73 grants with a stated purpose on Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (73 grants).
Who are Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation's largest grantees?
Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include San Antonio Botanical Societygarden ($430,000), Texas Biomedical Research Institute ($400,000) and TMI Episcopal ($300,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation?
Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation reported $51.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to support the diverse needs of San Antonio and the surrounding community, with an emphasis on Bexar County. Its stated primary focus areas are arts, education, health and wellness, animal welfare, and wildlife conservation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation?
The 2024 filing lists Barry Roberts as the contact. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation's EIN?
Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-2442790. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation by hand.
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